Master Gardeners of Venango County

This article discusses the beneficial pollinators that overwinter in the garden and best practices for providing habitat for them.  As the days get shorter and…

  Use judicious pruning to renovate older fruit trees in your home landscape.   Many people move to new homes where the previous owners had…

Compost can be used in potting mixes or mixed in with garden soil. It has many benefits for your plants and recycles materials that may…

As you shop for plants and seeds, understanding plant terminology will help you make better choices.  This article explains some of the more common terms…

Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes   Canning New White Potatoes   IMPORTANT: Safe canning recipes have only been developed for whole or sliced potatoes. Do not…

This article answers questions many gardeners have about how to prepare their garden for winter. As the beautiful Pennsylvania landscape takes on its legendary colors…

Though not as commonly grown as white potatoes, sweet potatoes are easy to grow in much of Pennsylvania.  Why not give growing sweet potatoes a…

You can delay your garden harvest of some root crops and greens until after a frost and still have a bountiful harvest.  As fall begins,…

Asparagus is a long-lived, perennial vegetable. Find out how to get an asparagus bed established in your home garden. If you desire to have an…

Knowing when your onions are ready for harvest and how to prepare them for storage are important steps toward having a successful crop. A common…

Root vegetables must be processed in a pressure canner.  They cannot be safely canned in a boiling water bath or atmospheric steam canner.  Caution: Root…

Learn ways to reduce challenges in the garden and adapt to gardening as you age gracefully.   The physical benefits of working in the garden…

Japanese beetles are not picky about the flowers and leaves they attack. They have favorites like roses and grapes, but many problems begin when the…

Consider planting a cover crop in late summer or fall to improve your vegetable garden soil.  This article describes their benefits and types of crops…

A Step-By-Step Guide for Growing Microgreens at Home A healthy lifestyle includes regular physical activity and a healthy diet.   Due to increasing costs, going to…

This article is an overview of growing and using garlic, including six recipes.   Many excellent varieties of garlic (Allium sativum) may be grown in…

April showers bring May flowers and an abundance of gardening information! Everywhere you turn, new techniques, tips, and tricks offer advice to help with the…

Tomatoes are probably the #1 container vegetable that interests gardeners after herbs. Based on our trials programs in 2008 and 2009, there are some excellent…

Strawberries are the ideal fruit crop for growers with very limited space. The plants are low growing perennials and provide a delicious supply of fruit…

Proper planting and aftercare techniques will ensure the success of new trees. Longer days, warmer temperatures, and buds breaking are sure signs of the arrival…

Slugs feed on flowers, vegetables and ornamentals, and are especially injurious to seedlings. Moreover, they get into cellars, on walks, and similar places around the…

This article discuses types of lettuce and other greens, such as kale and chard, that should be planted in early spring. Early spring is the…

Listing of the major vegetables and the “best time” to plant. Cabbage Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 5 to 6 weeks Germination time: 10-12…

Peas (Pisum sativum) are a cool season crop. If you ask a gardener if she or he grows peas, the answer is generally, “yes.” Because…

Plants are classified by the number of growing seasons required to complete their life cycle. Generally, these groups are annuals, biennials, and perennials. Annuals will…

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea ) is a vitamin-rich, delicious, leafy green that is best grown in the cool weather of either spring or fall. The many…

No matter how big or small your garden is, for successful vegetable gardening it is crucial to know the difference between cool-season and warm-season vegetables….

Early blooming native trees provide many benefits to the landscape and our native pollinators. The unfolding of spring after a long winter can make us…

Gardeners can grow most annuals, biennials, and many herbaceous perennials from seed. Sowing seed is less expensive than buying established plants and requires little equipment….

Many people move to new homes where the previous owners had planted fruit trees. If the owner did not properly care for the trees, the…

The philosophy behind blueberry pruning is to constantly renew the older, decreasingly productive canes by cutting them out and forcing new canes. The plant is…

Generally, fruit trees are pruned to develop a desired tree shape, to improve fruit quality, and to improve air circulation within the tree, which will…

Roses (Rosa spp.) have been one of the most beloved flowers throughout history. Their colors even have meaning: red for love, yellow for friendship, white…

Whether you fill your home with a collection of plants or select just one or two specimens, houseplants provide a myriad of benefits. They can…

Onions are becoming one of the more popular crops on area vegetable farms, and growers throughout the state are clamoring for information on how to…

When you consider how seeds germinate in nature, it makes sense to sow seeds the same way. In late summer, left to their own devices,…

With the onset of autumn, when sunlight is shaved away with every passing day, fear of darkness and the unknown troubled early humankind. Although the…

A living Christmas tree can be a great way to add a new tree to your landscape, provide a lasting memory, or allow you to…

There is no right or wrong species when it comes to choosing a Christmas tree. It all depends on your tastes and what is available…

In order to care for indoor winter holiday plants, first consider some houseplant basics. Plants in small pots dry out quickly. Most homes have a…